The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are locked in a heated battle in the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton’s team is now leading the series 2-1. Hence, the pressure is mounting on the young Thunder squad to respond and avoid falling into a 3-1 deficit.
Hence, Friday’s game has already been intense. An early moment of tension ignited during the first quarter when Oklahoma City’s star Lu Dort caught Haliburton with an elbow.
The incident occurred during a free-throw attempt by Bennedict Mathurin. During the play, Dort passed up a three-point shot and swung his arm back, striking Haliburton with his left elbow.
Lu Dort with an aggressive elbow on Tyrese Haliburton 😳 pic.twitter.com/8fCDevVidw
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 14, 2025
Haliburton immediately fell to the court and remained down for several seconds. Strikingly, referee James Capers did not call a foul.
Hali or the Pacers team also did not request a call. The Thunder then missed the shot at the rim shortly after. However, the non-call remained one of the most controversial calls in the NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton Shares His Finals Mentality After Game 3 Win
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Following Indiana’s crucial Game 3 victory, Haliburton spoke about the unique intensity of playing on basketball’s biggest stage. The Pacers star shared the emotional weight and physical demand of the moment.
“You’re playing in the NBA Finals. There should be a higher sense of urgency, a higher level of stress. Your spit should taste different,” Haliburton said.
Indiana inches closer to a historic title. They are just two wins away from their first NBA championship. Hence, Tyrese Haliburton has embraced the heightened stakes.
